We work hard to show you up-to-date product terms, however, this information does not originate from us and thus, we do not guarantee its accuracy. Before submitting an application, always verify all terms and conditions with the offering institution. Please let us know if you notice any differences.

† Approval Odds are WalletHub estimates intended to gauge your likelihood of approval for a particular product. Approval Odds are based on WalletHub data and are not provided or endorsed by the lender. Approval Odds are not meant to imply or guarantee that you will be approved by the lender or that credit will be extended.

Ad Disclosure: Certain offers that appear on this site originate from paying advertisers, and this will be noted on an offer’s details page using the designation "Sponsored", where applicable. Advertising may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.

Editorial and user-generated content on this page is not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any issuer.

American Express credit cards account for approximately 24% of the total dollar volume of credit card transactions in the U.S. – the highest of any issuer. American Express (a WalletHub advertiser) has built this lead thanks to a reputation for strong customer service as well as attractive rewards credit cards and charge cards targeted to people and businesses with excellent credit. The one downside to using an American Express credit card is that Amex is not nearly as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard– particularly outside of the United States.

To help you find the right offer for your needs, WalletHub’s editors compared dozens of American Express credit cards, including those issued by Amex as well as cards on the Amex network. And we selected our favorites in some of the most popular categories.

Earn 30,000 Bonus Miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months and a $50 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months.

Earn 2 miles on every dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1 mile for every eligible dollar spent on purchases.

Check your first bag free on every Delta flight - that's a savings of up to $200 per round trip for a family of four.

What is the best American Express credit card?

By: John Kiernan, Credit Card EditorCredit cards are not one-size-fits-all. So the best American Express credit card for one person may not be the best for someone else. And the best Amex card for others could be none at all. But we can tell you which Amex cards are best suited to different types of spending, so you can make an informed decision.

There are nearly 60 American Express cards available, between those issued by Amex and those on its network, according to WalletHub’s database of 1,000+ offers. And we analyzed them all to find the top offers.

Why American Express?

By: John Kiernan, Credit Card Editor

American Express is the country’s largest credit card issuer by purchase volume and the fourth largest payment network in terms of cards in circulation. Those facts alone indicate it’s pretty popular. But if you need any more convincing, American Express also ranked second among all major credit card companies in JD Power’s 2016 customer satisfaction survey.

American Express does have its fair share of faults, however. For starters, nearly all American Express credit cards are for people with good or excellent credit. So you’ll have to choose another issuer if you have a lower score. What’s more, Amex cards aren’t nearly as widely accepted – both in the U.S. and abroad – as cards on the Visa and Mastercard networks.

With all of that being said, we recommend basing your credit card decision primarily on approval requirements and the terms you will receive, rather than the issuer or network. In other words, instead of looking for the best American Express card, try to find the best overall credit card for your needs.

Where can you use American Express cards?

By: John Kiernan, Credit Card Editor

Around 8 million U.S. merchants accept Amex credit cards. You can also use them in more than 160 countries around the world. Amex’s Vicinity tool can help you find places that accept American Express credit cards in any area.

Do all American Express cards have to be paid in full each month?

By: John Kiernan, Credit Card Editor

No, you don’t have to pay every Amex credit card’s bill in full every month. You’re only required to do so with American Express charge cards. And even they give you a bit of leeway.

Even if you don’t have to pay your bill in full every month, you should still consider doing so. American Express credit cards are known more for rewards than low rates. And paying in full every month is critical to maximizing your rewards card earnings.

The only time not paying in full is advisable is when you’re using a 0% credit card. And even then, you’d better pay off what you owe before regular rates take effect. A credit card payoff calculator can be quite helpful in that regard.

Is the American Express Card accepted everywhere?

By: John Kiernan, Credit Card Editor

No, American Express is not accepted everywhere. Amex cards can be used at 4.5 million merchants in the U.S. and in 160+ countries abroad. Visa and Mastercard, in contrast, can be used at 8+ million merchants in the U.S. and 200+ countries.

That’s a big reason why American Express ranks 9th out of the 10 largest credit card issuers for international travelers, according to a 2018 WalletHub report.

Community Discussion

Comparing American Express Credit Cards can be tough. But you’ve got the knowledgeable WalletHub community on your side. We encourage everyone to share their knowledge while respecting our content guidelines. Please keep in mind that editorial and user-generated content on this page is not reviewed or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution. In addition, it is not the financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered....show moreshow less

Ask a question or help others find the best credit card by sharing some tips.

@dmcmickens728

@WalletHub

February 20, 2018

The reason American Express is not as widely accepted as Visa, Mastercard and Discover is that it charges merchants higher processing fees than the other networks. When you make a purchase with a credit card, the merchant has to pay a fee equal to a certain percentage of the sale amount. The fees go to the financial institutions involved in the transaction, but are set by the payment network. Typically, swipe fees set by Visa, Mastercard and Discover cards are smaller than those set by American Express. Therefore, retailers are less likely to accept American Express.

@dmcmickens728

@WalletHub

January 25, 2018

American Express credit cards work just like any other card – with the sole exception that American Express has its own payment network, so it is not affiliated with either Visa or Mastercard. Just like any other card, Amex cards give you a convenient way to borrow money to pay for your purchases. They offer regular credit cards, giving you the option to pay for your purchases over several months, and they also offer charge cards, which require you to pay your balance in full at the end of each month. You can use American Express cards to pay for purchases online, over the phone or in person. Hope this helps!

What does your credit score have to be to get an American Express card?

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@WalletHub

January 9, 2018

American Express does not release the exact credit score range required to qualify for any specific card, but you should have a credit score of at least 700.
American Express also offer exclusive credit cards aimed at a select market segment, like the Centurion Card (https://wallethub.com/d/american-express-centurion-card-999c/) but one of the requirements is to spend over $250,000 in a given year on an American Express Platinum Card (https://wallethub.com/d/american-express-platinum-219c/) and that’s just the bare minimum.

Yes, most major gas station chains (like BP, Exxon, Shell, Texaco) will accept American Express, but you may find a handful independent gas stations that will only accept Visa/MasterCard/Discover. That happens because American Express charges the merchants higher processing fees.

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@rialb11

February 9, 2017

When Amex lost its Costco contract (really dumb to have failed to keep 12% of their business), Amex sent "rewards cards" to existing customers saying that these were rebate cards. BIG LIE. They only give you a rebate on a very limited list of retailers and EXCLUDE air tickets, clothing retailers, restaurants, etc. Get out your card cutters and let's show Amex what we think of their misleading cards.

Good luck contacting Amex if you have an issue, 30 min wait times to speak to a customer service agent, just to have them tell you, that you can only speak to your account manager, mine is "Michael" Michael does not pick up, Michael does not return calls, Michael is completely unprofessional. After days of trying to reach "Michael" I have decided since Amex does not appreciate me as their customer, I no longer need them, nor will I ever accept American express cards in my store ever again. Good Job Michael!

I've been an AmEx cardholder since 1980 and a Platinum card holder for almost 20 years. I used to swear by the card and told people that, especially if they were going abroad, the AmEx card was essential. Over the past decade or so, I've noticed a number of troubling issues. Here are just a few of the most egregious problems I've encountered:
--Their travel service has become a joke. Among countless failings, try asking the person who books your flight for good hotel recommendations in the old city in Barcelona and you'll get Relais & Chateau--they're reading from a book--regardless of the fact that you've asked for a quaint, small old hotel. Nor will they seek someone with experience in Barcelona. (This goes for any city.) They do have country specialists, but they charge for them. After paying $450/year for a card, it's a little insulting to be charged for a service I can get from the Internet or a travel agent.
--Twice in the past two years, my wife needed medical attention in France from a doctor who spoke English as I speak good tourist French but that's it. I called AmEx and got completely wrong information. At one point, I drove to the address they gave me which was a nursing home. When I called to tell them the address was wrong, another moron insisted they'd given me the right address. Passing strangers gave us the address of a hospital--where no one spoke English. The second time, I was luckily standing next to the owner of our hotel who heard what they recommended, and he laughed and said it was wrong. He directed me to the correct hospital.
--Fewer and fewer places in Europe and the US take AmEx even when you have a card with a chip, including some very high-end stores.
--Last year, we rented a Hertz car for 6 people and 6 pieces of luggage. It turned into a disaster with Hertz charging us over 5 times the contract rate for an absurdly expensive car since they didn't have the one we'd ordered. AMEX has been totally useless negotiating on our behalf.
There was a time when AmEx people would move mountains to help cardmembers. Back in the mid-90s, I lost my wallet on an airplane. They arranged for me to rent a car with no ID and called my hotel to cover the bill. I wouldn't trust them to do that now. I'll use Visa.

I have had an American Express card for a while now, and although it is not that great when you have a problem when you want to transfer money, it is actually a pretty decent card. It takes a while to transfer money, but when it does go through, there are never any more problems. It's a pretty good card, and you get benefits if you have good credit.

I have been using my AMERICAN EXPRESS Serve card for the last year. No annual fees and ATM money withdraw free at select banks. I love it, the online site helps you classify purchases and manage sub accounts very easily. There are two day earlier Direct deposit of your Paycheck. Customer service is very good. I had the bad experience of getting a charge I didn't authorize and they readily sent me a replacement card and blocked the charge. The only thing I don't like is that Amex is not taken by several stores and services, so paying online has to be done with a different card.

I have both an American Express Green and American Express Blue credit cards. I pay an annual fee for both of these cards, however, the rewards, travel benefits, fraud protection and purchase protection, more than make up for the cost of the annual fees. I use the American Express Blue credit card for personal travel and use the Green American Express for business travel. On a personal trip to Cancun, our flight from Chicago to our final destination was canceled due to snow and ice. The flight from Cancun to Chicago did not get canceled, just delayed. I called American Express Travel for assistance, they were able to get us into the last room at the Hilton O'Hare and made sure we had dinner delivered within 15 minutes after check in. They turned a really bad situation into a less stressful and restful night. I appreciate the extra mile they went on our behalf. I did write a letter of praise to the company regarding the excellent customer service we had received.

I have been using my American Express card for about a year now. I do have an annual fee but it is offset by all of the rewards that I earn. The rewards are the best I've earned with any card and there are a lot of options to select when redeeming my rewards.

I have the Gold Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express. I selected that one as I often fly Delta from the Midwest to California and vice versa. The free bag checking for 3 of us pays for the annual fee, and the miles soon add up. The priority boarding is handy for getting the carry on stashed before the luggage bins fill up. I only use it when I fly Delta, but it works great as a secondary card.

I have two different American Express cards and I like both of them. Neither have an annual fee, which makes my rewards much more attractive. My favorite reward is getting the cash back. The only downside is that they are not taken everywhere.

I have the Macy’s American Express card. I got a credit card offer in the mail and I decided to give it a go since I did not have an American Express card at the time. So far I think it’s just an okay card. Macy’s doesn’t have a really good rewards program. The rewards are just mostly to get discounts at the store and nothing else really.

I have been using the American Express Small Business Open card for years. I think this is a wonderful deal if you qualify for one. The Small Business card offers a generous rebate in many categories: 3% for gas, 5% for cell phone service, 5% for office products, 1% on everything else, also they have some nice rebates for airline travel with certain carriers (often as high as 20% rebates!) Also rebates of up to 20% for Dell computer purchases. I love this card and use it all the time.

The TrueEarnings Card from Costco and American Express has saved me and my family an indescribable amount of time and money. We shop at Costco all the time and are constantly buying stuff for our 2 kids. The rewards for this card are better than any card I have had in the past.

I have the same card and the rewards are good. I wonder if Amex and Costco will eventually iron out a deal and keep the marriage intact. I am looking at other reward cards in case they don't or use my other visa reward cards

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We work hard to show you up-to-date product terms, however, this information does not originate from us and thus, we do not guarantee its accuracy. Before submitting an application, always verify all terms and conditions with the offering institution. Please let us know if you notice any differences.

† Approval Odds are WalletHub estimates intended to gauge your likelihood of approval for a particular product. Approval Odds are based on WalletHub data and are not provided or endorsed by the lender. Approval Odds are not meant to imply or guarantee that you will be approved by the lender or that credit will be extended.

Ad Disclosure: Certain offers that appear on this site originate from paying advertisers, and this will be noted on an offer’s details page using the designation "Sponsored", where applicable. Advertising may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.

Editorial and user-generated content on this page is not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any issuer.